Speed breakers are supposed to save lives on the highway, but the case has been the other way around in Barisal region. In recent times, they have been the cause of fatal accidents, thanks to a lack of prominent marking and proper maintenance.

Although this newspaper reported the situation one year back, the scenario on Dhaka-Barisal, Barisal-Khulna and Barisal-Kuakata highways remains the same, with unpainted speed breakers easily dodging the eyes of the motorists.

As the Eid vacation ends and Dhaka-bound rush begins, they may become even more fatal, particularly on Dhaka-Barisal and Barisal-Khulna routes which will witness a huge rush of holidaymakers.

Just three weeks ago on Khulna-Barisal highway in Pingri, a motorcyclist slipped over a speed bump which was not painted with white bands and thus not visible, said witness Syeed Rigan. 

More than three months ago, another motorcyclist with two pillion passengers died on Barisal-Khulna highway in Mollarhat of Jhalakathi after the rider lost control over an unpainted speed breaker, according to witnesses.

Of Barisal-Khulna highway, the 19km stretch from Rupatoli to Jhalakhati's Gabkhan Bridge has 22 speed bumps -- 15 of them have no reflective white stripes while the colours of the remaining seven are fading and hence hard to notice.

Meanwhile, on Dhaka-Barisal highway, half of the 33 speed breakers on 33km from Barisal to Gauranadi have lost their distinctive colours.

Because of lack of maintenance, the speed breakers cannot be seen from a short distance, and often it becomes difficult for the motorists to control their vehicles.

A chauffer of Rajapur in Jhalakathi, Khokon, said, “I use the highways regularly. But sometimes even I forget about the speed bumps as there is no marking or sign.”

These unpainted speed breakers often hurt the back of passengers and drivers, and even can kill people some time, said Hassan Sohel, a bus driver on Dhaka-Barisal highway.

On the night of June 12, at least two accidents happened -- one in front of Barisal University and the other in Kashipur area of Barisal city.

Three passengers of a three-wheeler Mahindra were injured in the head when the vehicle hit an unmarked speed bump in front of the university. Two of them hit the fence separating passengers from the driver, while the other bumped into the roof.

Another Mahindra three-wheeler fell into a roadside pond after hitting a bump unknowingly, injuring two people.

Last year, the speed breakers under Barisal City Corporation were marked with white bands after Eid-ul-Azha. But within some six months all of them lost their colours again.

With people in their hundreds starting for Dhaka after the Eid holidays, drivers fear that fatal road accidents might significantly increase on these busy highways if the speed bumps were not marked with white bands immediately.

Asked about the situation, Md Ashraful Alam, additional chief engineer of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Barisal district, said, “The unpainted speed breakers will be coloured soon.”

When asked about the poor maintenance, the official said some speed breakers from Amtala Mor to Nothullabad Bus Stand in Barisal city were repainted during repair works some three months ago. But it is not possible for them to monitor all the highways at a time.

Golam Mostofa, executive engineer of RHD, Barisal district, said, “In our country road construction and repair works are usually done during the rainy season. So, the colours easily get washed away in rainwater.”

Besides strong monitoring, change in the timeframe for colouring the speed bumps can bring a change in the road condition, he added.

Meanwhile, till now no initiative has been taken to make the speed breakers visible again.